CN1104664C - Necessary time display apparatus for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, until all images are copied, whether there is an interruption of the image forming operation is judged in advance based on the number of originals, the number of copies, the way of copying, the number of trays in the sorter, and the like. If it is judged that there is an interruption, the time required to complete the image forming operation and the time required until the interruption is recognized are displayed.

Description

Apparatus and method for displaying required time for image forming apparatus

technical field

The present invention relates to a required time display device for an image forming apparatus, which displays the time required to form an image.

Background technique

Conventional display devices display the time required to reproduce an image based on the input number of reproductions. However, with this conventional method, even in the case where the image forming operation is interrupted because the number of finisher trays is smaller than the input number of times of reproduction, the time required for image formation is still displayed. Therefore, in this case, the displayed time will be different from the actual time taken to form the desired image.

Contents of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a required time display device and a required time display method capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of displaying the elapsed time until an image forming operation is interrupted and a elapsed time display method.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a time display device and a display method of the elapsed time capable of displaying both the elapsed time until the image forming operation is interrupted and the elapsed time until the image forming operation is completed.

Description of drawings

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel unit of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electronic circuit of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the required time display means.

Detailed ways

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by referring to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. Reference numeral 1 represents an original illuminating lamp, reference numeral 2 represents a glass plate for placing originals, and reference numeral 3 represents a known automatic original feeder of a circular feeding type for originals, which can count the number of originals. Reference numeral 4 denotes a developing unit, reference numeral 5 denotes a transfer charger, reference numeral 6 denotes a photosensitive drum, reference numeral 7 denotes a fixing unit, reference numeral 8 denotes a sorter, reference numeral 9 denotes an original tray, Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper output tray. The finisher 8 has a plurality of output trays for storing printed recording sheets.

The original in the original tray 9 is sent to the original original placement glass plate 2 by the automatic original feeder 3, and is illuminated by the illuminating lamp 1 to form an electrostatic latent image reflecting the original on the photosensitive drum 6. This electrostatic latent image is developed by toner to render the image visible. The toner image is transferred to the recording paper by the transfer charger 5, heated and fixed by the fixer 7, and then sent to one of the plurality of output trays 10 of the sorter 9.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel unit of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 21 denotes a main frame of the control panel unit, reference numeral 22 denotes a start key for instructing the start of a copying operation, and reference numeral 23 denotes 10 keys for setting the number of times of image copying. The number of times of each copy of the image forming operation may be 1 or 2 depending on the copy mode set at that time. Reference numeral 24 denotes a clear key for clearing the number set by the ten-digit key 23 . Reference numeral 25 denotes a stop key for stopping the image forming operation. Reference numeral 26 denotes a display device comprising a liquid crystal display and a touch panel composed of transparent electrodes, this display device is used to set the copying mode, recording paper type and scaling, and is used to display the time taken for copying an image and is controlled by 10 numeric keys. The value of the setting.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the outline of an electronic circuit of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 30 denotes a key input means composed correspondingly to the keys 22 to 25 described above. The output of the key input means is sent to the control means 32 composed of a microcomputer, a memory, and the like. Reference numeral 31 denotes a detection signal former for detecting an image forming operation. This detection signal generator includes detectors, not shown, for detecting parameters such as the position of the original illuminating lamp, the size of the original, and the presence or absence of recording paper, and sends these detection signals to the control unit 32 . Reference numeral 33 denotes a display device corresponding to the above-mentioned display device 26 including a touch panel, and this display device 33 is to be controlled by a drive signal from the control means 32 . Reference numeral 34 denotes an image forming operation for driving and controlling a motor of an original illuminating lamp 1, an electromagnetic clutch and a heater, a developing unit 4, a transfer charger 5, a photosensitive drum 6, a fixing unit 7, etc., for loading operations, This loading operation is entirely controlled by the control device 32 .

Next to be described is a method of judging whether or not there is an interruption of the image forming operation. For example, in the pagination process of printed recording paper, if the number of copies set is greater than the number of paper output trays 10 in the finisher 8, when the number of copies printed is the same as the number of paper output trays, the image The forming operation is interrupted once, and after the recording paper is removed from the output tray, the start key 22 is pressed again to resume the image forming operation. This function is called infinite sorting function. In the image forming apparatus with this function, if the number of copies set by the user through 10 numeric keys 23 etc. is greater than the number of output trays 10, then the infinite sorting function starts to work, so it is possible to judge in advance Whether or not there will be an interruption of the image forming operation. In addition, if the number of times of set copying is smaller than the number of output trays 10, it is also possible to judge whether the image forming operation can be completed without interruption. Also, if the number of originals is larger than the number of recording sheets that can be accommodated in each output tray, it is also possible to judge whether there will be an interruption of the image forming operation. The amount of recording paper that can be accommodated in the medium-sized output tray for double-sided copying can also be used to judge the presence or absence of interruptions.

After the image forming operation resumes, the same judgment as above can be performed. In each of the other cases, it is also possible to judge the presence or absence of interruption in the image forming operation based on the set number of copies, copying method, number of originals, and the like.

Described below is a method of calculating the completion time required to form all the images. In this embodiment, the completion time required to complete the image forming operation from start to finish is calculated based on the time required to form one copy of one image.

The time t required to form one copy of an image accurately determined according to the size of the original, the size of the recording paper, the copying method and the scaling ratio is stored in the internal memory of the control device 32 in advance. The number n1 of image forming operations to be performed during the period from the start to the end is calculated based on the number of copies, the method of copying, and the number of originals. If n2 represents the number of image forming operations performed between the start of the image forming operation and the start of the calculation of the required completion time, then the completion time T required to complete the image forming operation after the calculation is started is given by the following equation (1) given.

T＝t×(n1-n2) .........(1)

Next to be described is a method of calculating the interruption time required until an interruption of the image forming operation. In this embodiment, the time required until an interruption of the image forming operation after starting or resuming the image forming operation is calculated based on the time required to form a copy of an image. Similar to Equation (1), the time t required to form one copy of an image accurately determined according to the size of the original, the size of the recording paper, the copying method and the scaling ratio is stored in the memory of the control unit 32 in advance. The number n3 of image forming operations performed during a period from start to interruption, or from restart to an interruption, is calculated based on the number of copies, copying method, number of originals, and number of output trays. If n4 represents the number of image forming operations performed from the start (or resumption) of the image forming operation to the start of the calculation of the required interruption time, then, after the start of the calculation until an interruption of the image forming operation The required time T2 is given by the following equation (2).

T2＝t×(n3-n4) ………(2)

Fig. 4 is a flowchart explaining the process of displaying each required time. In step 100, the user defines copying conditions by using the touch panel 26, including copying method (such as double-sided copying), scaling, recording paper type, and the like. In step 101, the user sets the number of copies by using the ten numeric keys 23. Then, in step 102, check whether the start key is pressed, if not, the process is in a waiting state until the start key is pressed. During the period from the pressing of the start key to the interruption of the image forming operation, the image forming operation is performed in parallel in the following procedure. In step 103, it is checked whether the number of originals is input through the touch panel 26, or the ten-digit key 23, or whether the number is automatically counted by the original feeder. If the number of manuscripts is set by manual input or automatically counted, then the process proceeds to step 104 , otherwise, the process proceeds to step 102 . In the case of automatic counting, if the copying method is to copy a set of one-sided originals onto a set of double-sided recording paper, the originals are fed once without being copied, so that the original feeder can count the number of times required for the image forming operation. frequency.

In step 104, it is judged based on the number of originals, the number of copies, the copying method, the number of finisher trays, etc. whether an interruption of the image forming operation will occur before all images are copied. If there is an interruption, the process proceeds to step 105 , otherwise the process proceeds to step 110 .

In step 105, the required interruption time is calculated by the above-mentioned required time calculation method given in the form of equation (2). If there is a predictable error in the desired outage time, a correction calculation will be made. At step 106 the calculated required interruption time is displayed on the display device 26 . In this embodiment, this time is displayed on the display device in minutes. For example, if the desired interruption time is 3 minutes, the character string "three minutes to go" is displayed on the display device 26 .

In step 107, it is checked whether the image forming operation is interrupted. If not, the process returns to step 105, otherwise, the process proceeds to 108 to delete the desired break time displayed on the display device 26. In step 109, check whether the start key is pressed to restart the interrupted image forming operation, if not, the flow process is in a waiting state until the key is pressed, after the image forming operation resumes, the flow process returns to step 104, checks Whether or not there is an interruption until all the images have been reproduced after restarting the image forming operation. If an interruption occurs, the process proceeds to step 105 to calculate the required interruption time. The process from step 104 to step 105 is repeatedly executed until it is judged that there is no interruption of the image forming operation.

If there is no interruption at step 104, the flow proceeds to step 110 where the required completion time is calculated. Similar to the calculation of the required interruption time at step 105, the calculation of the required completion time is performed by the above-mentioned calculation method for calculating the required completion time given in the form of equation (1). If there is a predictable error in the required completion time, a correction calculation will be made. At step 111 , the calculated required completion time is displayed on the display device 26 . In step 112, it is checked whether the image forming operation is finished. If not, the flow returns to step 110. As indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 4, if the required completion time is not ready to be displayed, the flow waits until the image forming operation is completed. If the image forming operation is finished, the flow proceeds to step 112, where the required completion time displayed on the display device 26 is deleted.

Although only the required interruption time is calculated in step 105, both the required interruption time and the required completion time can be calculated in step 105 and displayed on the display device 26 in step 106 to improve the apparatus function.

As explained so far, if it is judged that there is an interruption of the image forming operation, then the required interruption time, or both the required interruption time and the required completion time are displayed simultaneously. According to this, the user can efficiently perform the image forming operation, and the function of the image forming apparatus can also be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. time display apparatus that is used for image processing system comprises:

Setting device (30) is used to set a visual formation pattern;

Calculation element (32), the image formation pattern that is used for setting according to described setting device calculate finishes a required very first time section of image formation operation;

Display device (33) is used to show the very first time section that calculates;

Decision maker (32) is used for judging from the image formation pattern that described setting device sets whether the interruption that image forms operation will take place,

Wherein, if described decision maker is judged this interruptions will take place, described calculation element calculates one second time period of generation that forms this interruption of operation up to image, and this second time period of being calculated of described display device demonstration,

It is characterized in that

Described image processing system comprises and being used for being formed with the sorting equipment (8) that sorts of recording chart of image, and

Wherein said decision maker judges whether described interruption to take place according to the character of described sorting equipment.

2. according to the time display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display device (33) had both shown that the very first time section that calculates also showed second time period that calculates.

3. according to the time display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said calculation element (32) calculates to be finished this image and forms a required very first time section of operation after image forms restarting of operation, and described display device (33) be presented at that image forms operation this finish this image after restarting and form and operate this required very first time section.

4. according to the time display apparatus of claim 1, if wherein described decision maker (32) is judged the interruption that image forms operation can not take place, described display device shows described very first time section.

5. according to the time display apparatus of claim 1, a character of wherein said sorting equipment (8) is that it comprises and is used to sort a plurality of pallets of recording chart that are formed with image, and if the number of the visual duplicate that will form greater than the number of pallet then described decision maker (32) judge the interruption that image formation is operated will take place.

6. according to the time display apparatus of claim 1, a character of wherein said sorting equipment (8) is that it comprises a plurality of pallets that are used to sort the recording chart that is formed with image, each all suitably is provided with these pallets holding the recording chart that is formed with image of predetermined number, and if the number of original paper greater than this predetermined number of the recording chart that is formed with image that can be received then described decision maker (32) judges that image will take place forms the interruption of operating.

7. be used for a kind of a kind of time display method of image processing system, may further comprise the steps:

(a) determine the visual pattern that forms that (100,101) are set by a user;

(b) calculate (110) according to the image formation pattern of determining and finish a required very first time section of image formation operation;

(c) show the very first time section that (111) calculate;

(d) form mode decision (104) from the image of determining whether the interruption that image forms operation will take place;

(e), calculate (105) one second time period up to this interruption generation of image formation operation if the interruption that image formation is operated will take place in judgement;

(f) go up this second time period that shows that (106) calculate in display device (26),

It is characterized in that

Described image processing system comprises the sorting equipment (8) that is used to sort the recording chart that is formed with image, and

Wherein said step (d) judges whether will interrupt according to the character of described sorting equipment.

8. according to the time display method of claim 7, wherein said step (f) had both shown on display device (26) that the very first time section that calculates also showed second time period that calculates.

9. according to the time display method of claim 7, further may further comprise the steps:

Calculating forms of operation at image and finishes this image after restarting and form and operate a required very first time section, and

Finish this image after this that is presented at that this image forms operation restarts and form this required very first time section of operation.

10. according to the time display method of claim 7, a character of wherein said sorting equipment (8) is to comprise and is used to sort a plurality of pallets of recording chart that are formed with image, and if the number of the visual duplicate that will form greater than the number of pallet then described step (d) judges that image will take place forms the interruption of operating.

11. time display method according to claim 7, a character of wherein said sorting equipment (8) is to comprise a plurality of pallets that are used to sort the recording chart that is formed with image, each all suitably is provided with these pallets holding the recording chart that is formed with image of a predetermined number, and if the number of original paper greater than this predetermined number of recording chart that is formed with image that can be received then described step (d) judge the interruption that image forms operation will take place.

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